Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and senior advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, visited Beirut on Wednesday for high-stakes discussions with Lebanon’s leadership. The meetings came just days after Beirut’s controversial decision to disarm all “resistance factions” and other armed groups in the country—a move widely interpreted as a direct challenge to Hezbollah.
Larijani met separately with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, as well as key Hezbollah allies, including Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and a Hezbollah parliamentary delegation. Upon his arrival at Beirut International Airport, he was greeted by crowds of Hezbollah supporters waving the group’s yellow banners and chanting, “Humiliation… never!”
During his talks with Aoun and Salam, Larijani expressed sharp opposition to Lebanon’s disarmament policy, warning that it risked destabilizing the country. Analysts note that the dispute has fueled some of the most serious political unrest Lebanon has faced since the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Following the meetings, Larijani released a statement denying Lebanese government accusations that Iran was meddling in the country’s internal affairs. He countered that “it is Washington that gives orders to Beirut from the other side of the world,” and argued that Hezbollah and other resistance movements were formed independently, representing a “natural component” of Lebanon’s national defense.
Larijani’s visit was further overshadowed by controversy when he told a reporter that he had “no time” to meet with Lebanese Foreign Minister Youssef Raji. Lebanese media later claimed Larijani had actually requested such a meeting, though a leaked copy of his itinerary appeared to show no such request was made.
Since assuming office earlier this year, President Aoun and Prime Minister Salam have pursued a strongly pro-Western agenda. This includes pushing for the disarmament of all militias while, critics say, ignoring repeated Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese territory—policies that have significantly strained Beirut’s relations with Tehran.